Safety device for automobiles



April 2, 1935. w. M. SMITH SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed June 25, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FV/fer 11 $7771 April 2, 1935. w. M. SMITH SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 25, 1954 i Vez/ferff. S d/72 Patented Apr. 2, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Walter M. Smith, San Diego, Calif.

Application June 25, 1934, Serial No. 732,324 3 Claims. (Cl. 180-83) This invention relates to a safety device for automobiles, and has more particular reference to bumper-actuated means for rendering the engine of an automobile inoperative so as to reduce 5 to a minimum the serious results caused by 001- liding of the automobile with some object, as well as to prevent the driver of the automobile leaving the scene of the collision illegally.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide means associated with the bumper of the automobile to automatically shut off the fuel supply and the ignition system of the automobile engine upon an impact against the automobile bumper.

. A still further object of the present invention is to provide a safety device of the above character which is extremely simple and durable in construction, efficient in use, and readily applicable at a minimum expense to existing automobiles.

The present invention consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view, partly broken away and in section, showing the chassis of an automobile equipped with a safety device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the construction shown in Figure 1, drawn on an enlarged scale.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the switch forming part of the safety device shown in Figure 1 and controlling the ignition system of the automobile engine.

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the switch shown in Figure 3, with part of its casing removed; and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the automobile 5 is provided at the rear with the usual gasoline storage tank 6 from which the gasoline is conveyed by a pipe line I to the carburetor of the automobile engine 8 located at the front of the automobile as usual. In the gasoline feed line I is a suitable shut-off valve 9, arranged in the line 1 intermediate the tank 6 and engine 8 where said line runs along and within one of the channel-shaped side chassis rails Ill of the automobile.

In accordance with the present invention, a

rod H is arranged longitudinally and diagonally withinthe automobile frame and mounted for longitudinal movement in suitable guides l2 and i3 attached to the automobile frame, the rear end of rod H engaging the handle 14 of the shut-off valve 9 so that rearward movement of rod II will operate to close said valve and shut off the supply of fuel from the tank 6 to the carburetor of the engine 8.

Hinged to the forward end of rod I l is an operating bar 25 which is offset intermediate its ends and slidably mounted in a guide I6 centrally attached to the rear supporting bar I! of the automobile bumper, which also includes a front yieldable bumper bar I8. The offset in the operating bar 15 positions the forward end of the latter intermediate the sides of the automobile frame, and mounted within the bumper directly in front of the forward end of this bar l5 and directly behind the yieldable front bar I8 of the bumper is a rearwardly movable shoe I9. It will thus be seen that when the yieldable bar l8 of the bumper impacts with an object it is forced rearwardly into engagement with the shoe is so as to force the bar l5 rearwardly and thereby cause a corresponding rearward movement of rod l I. The hinged connection between the bar I5 and rod I l is indicated at 2!), and this permits upward swinging movement of the bar l5 so that it may be temporarily positioned out of the way u ing suitable provision for releasing the actuat- 1 ing bar l5 when it is desired to swing the latter upwardly out of the way. Merely by way of example, the guide Hi is shown as provided with a swinging keeper 22 which may be lifted to release the bar I5 as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 6 and which may be retained in its operative position by a fastening screw 23 or the like.

When the valve 9 is open, the parts are arranged as shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, and it will therefore be clear that when the vehicle is driven against an object the yieldable bumper bar 18 will be forced rearwardly so as to cause corresponding movement of operating bar l5 and rod H thereby closing valve 9 and depriving the automobile engine 8 of further supply of fuel. This will prevent the driver from leaving the scene of the collision a material distance unless the parts are reset to including opening of valve 9.

In order to prevent the operator of the vehicle driving away even if the valve 9 is opened, I provide a sliding knife switch 24 in the main circuit 25 of the ignition system of the engine 8, said switch including a blade 26 ofinsulating material carried by the rod H and provided with a conducting member 21 adapted to bridge a pair of spaced contacts 28 carried by the casing of the switch 25 which is suitably attached to the automobile frame. In the normal position of the parts, the bridge piece 27 electrically connects the contacts 28 which are connectedin the ignition circuit, but upon rearward movement of rod H to cause closing of valve 9, the bridge piece 27 is moved rearwardly from between the contacts,

28 so that the ignition circuit is opened or shut off. This causes prompt stopping of the automobile engine when the automobile impactsan object so as to force the yieldable bumper bar it rearwardly as mentioned above. As the switch 2 5 is located within'the frame of the automobile beneath its body and at a point between the engine 8 and fuel control'valve 9, it is not readily accessible and will thereby serve to prevent immediate leaving of the'scene of the collision on the part of an unscrupulous driver.

It will be noted that the shoe is extends transversely of the automobile substantially from end to endoi the bumper, and is rigid or not resilient and not readily flexible. Also, bolts 38 are rigid with and project rearwardly from the ends of shoe l9 and slidably extend through the rear supporting bar 5 Tot the bumper to support the shoe 19. for; free rearward movement. Thus, when any part of the yieldable. bumper bar impacts an obpect, movement will betransmitted through the shoe. I9 to bar 15 for actuation of valve 9 and the switch 24.

Fliom thc foregoing description, it is believed that the construction and operation, as well as the'advantages of the present invention will be readily understood. and appreciated by -those skilled in the art. It is. noted, however, that the invention is aself-contained attachment for an automobile which may be installed with little modification oralteration of the vehicle or its bumper. Moreover, the attachment is extremely simple so. as to embody a minimum number of I parts, which can be economically produced and 1.,In an automobile, the combination with a bumper having a transverse yieldable bumper bar, of a; safety attachment. including an operating bar mounted, behind, said yieldable bumper: bar and. movable rearwardly by the latter upon impact of said yieldable bumper bar with an object, a longitudinally movable rod connected to and extending rearwardly from said operating bar, and a valve controlling the flow of gasoline from the storage tank to the carburetor of the automobile, said rod being operatively associated with said valve to close the latter when moved rearthe storagetank to the carburetor of the automobile, said rod being operatively associated, with said valve to close the latter when moved rear- Wardly by the operating bar, said operating bar being arranged intermediate the ends of the bumper; and hinged to said rod for upward and rearward swinging movement to an out-oi-theway position, said bumper iurtherincluding a 7 rear supporting bar, and a guide for said operating bar clamped to said rear supporting bar. of

the bumper and including means to releasably retain said operating bar in operative position and to permit upward and rearward swinging movement of the same to the out of way position.

3. In an automobile, the combination with a,

bumper having, a transverse yieldable bumper bar and a rear transverse supporting bar, a guide mounted on said rear supporting bar of the bumper, an operating'bar slidably guided in said guide andmovable rearwardl-y by the; yieldable bumper bar: upon impact. of the latter with. an object, a, rod connected to and extending. rearwardly from said operating, bargand an engine stopping device operable to render the. enginexof the; automobile inoperative upon rearward mov ment of said rod, said operating bar being hinged to the rod -for upwardv andrearward swinging movement to-permit free cranking of the automo-- bile engine by hand, and said guide-for the op.- erating bar embodying; quickly releasable retaining means for they latter whereby said operating bar is maintained'in lowered operative; position. and may be readily released for being swung'upwardly andv rearwardly to an out-of the-way position. r 

